Question 1

Which psychological school of thought is best illustrated by a researcher who places a rat in a box and rewards it with food every time it presses a lever, demonstrating how reinforcement shapes behavior?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism

Question 2

A therapist helps a patient uncover repressed childhood memories that may be influencing their anxiety today. This approach is most closely associated with which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalysis

Question 3

A psychologist studies how children's problem-solving strategies change as they get older, arguing that the mind actively processes information like a computer. Which school of thought does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychology

Question 4

Which research method involves visiting several playgrounds to observe how children interact during recess, without interfering or engaging with them?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation

Question 5

A researcher is interested in understanding the long-term impact of traumatic brain injury on an individual's memory and cognitive function. They follow one specific individual who suffered a severe brain injury, interviewing the person and their family over several years. Which research method is being used?

Accepted Answer

Case study

Question 6

A social psychologist sends out a questionnaire to 1,000 people, asking about their beliefs, concerns, and willingness to take action to reduce environmental impact. The responses are analyzed to find general trends in public opinion. What research method is this?

Accepted Answer

Survey

Question 7

Which of the following pairs is most likely to show a negative correlation?

Accepted Answer

Hours of TV & physical fitness

Question 8

In an experiment studying the impact of pizza consumption on productivity, which variable would be considered the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

Amount of pizza consumed

Question 9

Which type of validity refers to how well an experiment controls for confounding variables and accurately tests what it intends to within the study setting?

Accepted Answer

Internal validity

Question 10

A patient talks a lot—fast and fluent—but when asked to repeat a simple word like 'dog,' he says 'dop, dig, dag' and seems unaware it's wrong. This is most likely an example of:

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's aphasia

Question 11

Which brain structure is most associated with forming new memories, as referenced in the phrase 'Are you my ____? Because I'll never forget you.'?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Question 12

Which neurotransmitter is referenced in the phrase 'You must be ____ because you get my heart racing and my muscles moving.'?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Question 13

A woman tries to explain her breakfast: 'Egg... eat... coffee.' She understands when you ask her to raise her hand or touch her nose, but struggles to speak fluently. This is most likely:

Accepted Answer

Broca's aphasia

Question 14

Which brain region is most involved in regulating emotions, as referenced in the phrase 'You must have hijacked my ____ because I feel all kinds of emotions when I'm with you.'?

Accepted Answer

Limbic system

Question 15

At a crowded party, you are focused on your own conversation but suddenly hear your name mentioned from across the room. This phenomenon is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

The cocktail party effect

Question 16

You walk into a room and fail to notice that a piece of furniture has been moved until someone points it out. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Change blindness

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the difference between sensation and perception?

Accepted Answer

Sensation is the detection of physical stimuli, while perception is the interpretation of those stimuli.

Question 18

A scientist argues that fear must have evolved because it helped our ancestors survive dangerous situations. This explanation is most consistent with which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychology

Question 19

A researcher wants to study the relationship between social media use and stress levels. Which statistical formula would they use to calculate the correlation coefficient between these two variables?

Accepted Answer

$r = \frac{\sum (x_i - \bar{x})(y_i - \bar{y})}{\sqrt{\sum (x_i - \bar{x})^2 \sum (y_i - \bar{y})^2}}$

Question 20

Which brain region is most associated with decision-making and impulse control, as referenced in the phrase 'Did you damage my ____? Because I keep making bad decisions when I'm around you.'?

Accepted Answer

Prefrontal cortex

Test 1 Prep: Core Topics in Introductory Psychology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards